Rep. Mary Jo Daley

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania zoning laws to allow municipalities with over 5,000 residents in growing counties to create rules for multiple-unit housing. It directly affects local governments in these specific areas by expanding their authority to regulate apartment and condominium developments. The key provision adds new eligibility criteria based on population size and recent growth, removing previous restrictions that limited these zoning options. This change aims to provide a clearer legal framework for communities seeking to increase housing density in response to population increases.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the scope of practice for pharmacists in Pennsylvania by allowing them to administer injectable medications, biologicals, and immunizations to patients aged three and older. It establishes new requirements for training, parental consent for minors, and reporting procedures while also permitting pharmacists to delegate these tasks to specific healthcare professionals and qualified pharmacy technicians under strict supervision. Additionally, the legislation grants pharmacies with existing federal waivers the ability to perform certain laboratory tests for common illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu without adhering to some state clinical laboratory regulations.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill prohibits the intentional addition of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, to a wide range of consumer products including cookware, cosmetics, food packaging, and artificial turf. While the law generally bans these chemicals, it allows for their use in specific items if the Department of Environmental Protection determines that no safer alternative exists and the chemical is critical for the product's function. The Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with enforcing these restrictions, managing a public database of PFAS information, and imposing penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to help Pennsylvania school districts provide annual mental health screenings for students in grades six through twelve. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, eligible school entities can apply for funding to hire staff, purchase materials, or partner with outside organizations to conduct these evidence-based screenings. The program requires applicants to submit detailed plans outlining how they will screen students, protect privacy, and connect those who need help with licensed mental health professionals or community resources. Additionally, the Department of Education will consult with national mental health experts and maintain a list of qualified vendors to assist participating schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Paid Rest Period for Workers Act, requires employers in Pennsylvania to give employees at least 30 consecutive minutes for a meal break or rest period after working five or more consecutive hours. These breaks must be paid and counted as work time, though the law allows for exceptions during workplace emergencies or if a union contract already offers equal or better protections. The Secretary of Labor and Industry is authorized to investigate violations by inspecting worksites and reviewing records, and employers who fail to comply face fines of up to $500 per affected employee per missed break. Additionally, the law provides a mechanism for the state to recover lost wages on behalf of employees who were denied these required paid breaks.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Second Class City Firemen Relief Law to clarify membership rules and improve benefits for surviving spouses and children. It requires new members to sign an agreement forfeiting fund rights upon leaving the fire department and mandates that active members contribute six percent of their wages plus a one-dollar monthly fee, while retirees pay one dollar monthly. The legislation establishes specific death benefits, including a lump sum for all dues paid and monthly survivor payments for widows who die on duty, which continue for up to five hundred weeks or until remarriage. Additionally, it outlines how pensions are distributed to dependent children or parents if there is no surviving spouse, ensuring that total family benefits do not exceed fifty percent of the deceased member's salary.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill amends the Solid Waste Management Act to clarify definitions and restrict how oil and gas wastewater is handled. It explicitly adds various types of oil and gas wastewater, such as production water and brine, to the legal definition of "residual waste." The legislation prohibits spreading this wastewater on roads or applying it to land, with the sole exception of tophole water used at the specific well site where it was extracted. Additionally, the bill bans vehicles transporting this wastewater from having mechanisms that could facilitate the prohibited disposal or reuse methods. These changes aim to limit the environmental impact of oil and gas operations by preventing the use of wastewater for dust suppression, road deicing, or road stabilization.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends an existing law to expand eligibility for grants that help pay off student loans for healthcare workers serving in rural areas or medically underserved communities. The primary change broadens the definition of eligible recipients from just physicians and nurses to include all types of medical practitioners, such as midwives, and adds rural health clinics as qualifying employers. Additionally, the bill adjusts the grant award structure to allow payments in increments of up to $10,000 and extends the repayment period for recipients from 60 to 90 months. These modifications aim to increase the pool of eligible professionals and improve the financial terms of the loan repayment assistance program.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Pennsylvania's PA EDGE tax credit program to support the creation of sustainable aviation fuel facilities within the state. It defines a "qualified taxpayer" as an entity that invests at least $400 million in construction, creates 400 permanent jobs, and adheres to local hiring and wage standards. Companies meeting these criteria can receive a tax credit of 75 cents per gallon of sustainable aviation fuel produced at their facility. Additionally, the legislation sets aside up to $30 million of existing unallocated funds specifically for this new initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's tax laws to exclude sales tax from the calculation of interchange fees charged on credit and debit card transactions. It requires payment card networks to either deduct the tax amount from these fees at the time of settlement or refund a proportional portion of the fee if the tax was not initially separated. The legislation defines specific terms like "interchange fee" and "electronic payment transaction" to clarify which fees are affected and outlines penalties for networks that fail to comply, including fines and mandatory refunds to merchants.